Biopsy
What is a Biopsy?
A biopsy is a procedure that uses a special needle to remove a small portion of tissue that is suspicious. Imaging is used to guide the radiologist to the area to be biopsied. After cleaning and administration of numbing medicine, the radiologist will insert a needle into the area and use the images from the scanner to make sure the correct area is biopsied. The biopsy samples are sent to a pathologist, who will analyze the specimen and prepare a report of what they find.
Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy
Breast ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that allow the radiologist to determine if a mass seen on a mammogram is a solid abnormality or a fluid filled structure such as a cyst. Often the suspicious area is a benign fluid-filled sac called a cyst. Breast cysts are common, particularly in women 40-60. If the mass is solid, a biopsy will be performed to determine if the mass is benign or is a cancer.
Stereotactic Guided Breast Biopsy
Stereotactic biopsy is performed using a specialized mammography table. During the procedure, you will lie face down on the table and the breast being biopsied will be placed through a hole in the table. Stereotactic mammography pinpoints the exact location of a breast abnormality by using computer analysis of X-rays taken from two different angles. Using the computer-calculated coordinates, the radiologist inserts a special needle through a small cut in the skin. The radiologist then advances the needle into the suspicious area and removes a sample.
MRI Guided Breast Biopsy
MRI guidance is used to biopsy suspicious areas seen on your breast MRI. The MRI system is combined with a grid compression device to pinpoint the area to be biopsied. During the procedure you will lie face down on the table. Your breast will hang into the breast coil on the table and be compressed in a special grid. The radiologist will place a needle into the breast and take a sample. A tiny metal biopsy marker will be placed in the breast so that doctors identify the site of the biopsy on future mammograms and MRIs. You will not be able to feel this marker. The marker is safe in an MRI unit, and it will not set off metal detectors like those used in airport screening.
Soft Tissue, Lymph Node and Thyroid Biopsy
Ultrasound can be used to biopsy indicated areas of soft tissue in other parts of the body. Lymph nodes are biopsied to determine why they are enlarged. Thyroid biopsies are performed to determine if a nodule in the thyroid gland is cancerous. During these procedures, the CDI radiologist always numbs the area to reduce pain.
Why Did My Doctor Order a Breast MRI?
A biopsy is ordered when a radiologist identifies a suspicious area on a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI or when your doctor feels an enlarged lymph node or a nodule on the thyroid gland. The radiologist will recommend a biopsy to determine if the suspicious area contains cancer cells.
What Should I Expect?
A technologist will request that you remove clothing to the area to be biopsied. You will be provided with a private changing room where you can leave all personal items. The technologist will give you a key to this room. You can secure all personal items in this space. A technologist will perform a scan to locate the area in question. Once the area is located, the technologist will clean the area with an antiseptic solution and create a sterile field around the area. The radiologist will deaden the area using localized anesthetic. The radiologist will use the images from the scan to insert a needle into the area. The images allow the radiologist to verify that the correct area is being biopsied. After a sample is collected, pressure will be applied to the area to stop any bleeding that occurs. The technologist will clean the area and apply pressure dressing.
No Radiation
Slight Pain
How Long Will It Take?
Biopsy procedure times will vary depending on the type of imaging used and how many areas need to be biopsied. Most procedures will be completed in 45-60 minutes.
How Will I Get the Results?
After your scan, a board-certified radiologist will read the images produced from the scan. The radiologist will prepare a report that will be sent to your doctor. The pathologist will also prepare a report and send it to your doctor. Your doctor’s office will contact you with the results.
You Get to Choose
Switching your imaging to CDI is simple and will almost always mean less out-of-pocket costs to you. Choose whichever method you prefer:
For Physicians
CDI offers the following scans:
- Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy, Stereotactic Guided Breast Biopsy, MRI Guided Breast Biopsy, Ultrasound Guided Lymph Node Biopsy, Ultrasound Guided Soft Tissue Biopsy and Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Thyroid Biopsy.
The pathologist will usually provide a report within 24 hours.
Because CDI is a small facility, our negotiated allowable rate for third party payors is less than big box facilities.
This means the out-of-pocket percentage required by the patient is much less.
Contact Us
The friendly, professional CDI staff is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or help transferring imaging orders to us. We’ll make it easy.